Anatomy of a Marriage Ch 11

Marsha was still trying to figure out how to approach Linsey about giving Tracie drugs to hold for her, when the three older kids came in from school. She had alerted the car pool driver that Tracie wouldn’t be with them, but the other children were concerned their sister hadn’t joined them. They assumed she must have gotten sick and had to be picked up. Tracie was in the kitchen when her siblings walked in. Marsha was on her way to greet them, but hearing their conversation, she stopped outside the door.

“What happened to you?” asked Joey. “We didn’t know where you were. Did you get sick?”

“No, I got suspended, thanks to my sweet sister. If she ever asks you to do her a favor, tell her no.”

“Tracie!” Linsey yelled. “Don’t tell me you got caught. I was waiting for you to meet me after fourth period. I promised Tyler I would give that stuff back to him. How did anyone know? You had better not have told anyone where you got it.”

“No, I didn’t tell on you, but I should have. You promised I wouldn’t get caught. If I’d told them they were yours, they might have suspended you instead of me. Mom knows though. You’d better be prepared.”

“Oh s#@t! I guess I’ll be grounded. Why did they search your purse? Did you show them to someone? I told you not to let anyone know.”

Joey spoke up again. “Linsey, why did you bring those drugs home in the first place. You tried them with Tyler at that party we went to last weekend, didn’t you? That guy’s no good for you. You need to leave him alone.”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but all I did was take a couple of drags of the cigarette they were passing around. I was scared to try LSD at the party. I tried one here at home, but it made my head woozy, and I got nauseous. I didn’t like the way it made me feel, and I was going to give the stuff back to him. It’s no big deal. All the kids do it. Don’t tell me you’ve never tried it.”

Marsha was starting to feel guilty for eavesdropping. Yet she felt she’d gotten more of the story than she would have if she’d confronted a defensive Linsey. Now she knew her daughter was actively using drugs. She opened the door and walked in and was greeted with silence as her children starting moving about and opening cabinets and checking the refrigerator.   

“Don’t let me interfere with your conversation. If you’re starving, there are apples and grapes in the fruit bowl. We also have milk and cookies if you had rather have that. Since we are all together, maybe we should sit down and have a little chat. I’m always interested in hearing about your day.”

“Mom, you were listening outside the door, weren’t you?” Timothy interjected. “I’ll bet you heard everything they said.”

“You never know where I might be. I wouldn’t think my children would be trying to hide anything. But I didn’t hear anything out of you, Timmy boy. Weren’t you smart not to weigh in?”

“I didn’t even go to that party. I was just listening to see what I could learn. I haven’t ever done no drugs. I’m the good son.”

“Mom,” Linsey said, “I don’t know what you heard, but I’m not planning to do drugs. I don’t even like them. I was going to give them back to Tyler. I shouldn’t have taken them. I’m sorry Tracie got in trouble.”

“Listen Kids. I’m disappointed. I’ve given you too much credit. I blame myself as well. I’ve been too wrapped up in my own little world. Now that your dad is in a rehab facility, you’re my sole responsibility. You’ve got to help me out here. I can’t handle much more. Linsey, your sister will have this on her record. If something else should happen, she could be expelled. The school is expecting me to tell them where she got the drugs. I am not going to get you involved, but all of you had better stay out of trouble. Who is this Tyler guy you all keep mentioning? Is he someone you like, Linsey?”   

"He's just a guy from school. I did like him for a while. It’s not like we're dating or anything."

“You don’t need to be hanging around with people who are using drugs. You won’t be going to any more weekend parties until your dad gets back. Even then, I’m going to have to talk to someone and know there will be some responsible adult there. I don’t care if other kids at your school use drugs. That is no excuse for you. Even these recreational drugs are illegal and will lead to the harder stuff. You could end up in jail or hooked on something. It is bad enough your dad is an alcoholic. Addiction runs in the family. I need you all to promise me you won’t ever get involved with any kind of drugs.” 

After they all promised, Marsha decided to drop the subject. She had other things to think about.

“Mom, have you talked to Dad?” Timothy asked.

“No, they won’t let me talk to him yet. They’ve been calling and updating me. He has been off alcohol for two weeks. Next week they’re going to let me go to one of the group sessions with him, but I may not get to speak to him alone. They want me to encourage him and tell him we are all proud of him. I can’t tell him anything to worry him. He can’t know about Tracie being suspended. I’ve got to make him believe everything is under control. You all go and do your homework now. I’m counting on you not to let me down.”

Marsha went to her room drained, but feeling a little better about the children. They had seemed concerned about her needs. For now, she decided she would put off locating a lawyer, until she had at least seen Trenton. Maybe the group session would reassure her as to whether or not he was serious about trying to overcome his addiction.

What she really wanted to do was to confront him about where the extra money on his check had been going and who might have been so anxious to get in touch with him. It would have to wait.  At least, there shouldn’t be a way he could contact anyone he might have been seeing. For now, she would try to convince herself this might end any extramarital relationship he was involved with.

Darn it. As hurt and angry as I am, he is still the love of my life, and I don’t know how to live without him.

CHARACTERS: 
Marsha Carlson  wife of Trenton age 43
Trenton Carlson  husband and law partner 45 
Joey Carlson  son. Age 17 
Linsey Carlson daughter age 16
Timothy Carlson son Age 14
Tracie Carlson daughter Age 13